Top Stories this week: Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Four arrested on drug charges in Bradenton BeachBradenton Beach Det. Sgt. Lenard Diaz is pictured with some of the drugs and paraphernalia officers collected Sunday after searching a cottage at 103 Fourth St. N. Working off a tip from a confidential informant that marijuana was being sold there to high school students, Diaz and other officers investigated the residence for two months. An undercover officer made two buys before a search warrant was obtained and executed. Arrested on marijuana possession and possession to sell charges, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia, were two unnamed juveniles, Robert R. Gordon, 54, and David A. Lanzillo, 20, all of Bradenton Beach. Officers seized about 50 grams of marijuana and upwards of 30 pipes. "It was pretty bold to be selling this stuff a block away from the police department," Diaz said. Islander Photo: Paul Roat

Public hearing on bridge opening times next Wednesday

The U.S. Coast Guard has scheduled a public hearing for 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 29 at the Holmes Beach City Hall on changing the opening times for the Cortez Bridge and the Anna Maria Island Bridge.

Members of the Anna Maria Code Enforcement Board ruled at their March 13 meeting that a boat located at 319 Tarpon St. has been "abandoned" and ordered the property owner to get rid of the vessel by March 20 or face a fine of up to $250 per day until the boat is removed from the property.

Seems that seaweed likes Anna Maria. Last week, Anna Maria's beaches from Bean Point south to past the Sandbar restaurant were treated to invasion of the noxious weed, spoiling a few vacations and creating an unpleasant smell.

It doesn't take much for Islanders to figure that the Island is packed with visitors. All one has to do is take the car for a ride along Gulf Drive any afternoon to figure this one out, or try to find a parking spot at Manatee Public Beach any time after 10 a.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard has scheduled a public hearing at the Holmes Beach City Hall for 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, on a requested change to the schedule of "timed" openings for the Anna Maria Island and Cortez bridges.

The Holmes Beach Planning Commission held a public hearing March 16 to discuss a small plan amendment proposal to redesignate the properties located east of Gulf Drive, between 52nd Street and Anna Maria Elementary School, from low density to medium density on the city's future land use map.

Holmes Beach Mayor Carol Whitmore has made it official: She's not going to run for an at-large seat on the Manatee County Commission this November, although she remains firm that she will not seek re-election as mayor.